Derrick-leg clamp



v w'. `s'Pr-:AKMAN ET Ag l 11,791,107

' Feu 3, 192.1.l

DERRICK LEGV CLAMP .Filed Dec. 16,'1929 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED YSTATES PATENT oFFl'cE WALTER r. SPEAKMAN ANDGUY 1i. cnocxrmr, orDRUMRIGHT', OKLAHOMA Bannion-LEG CLAMP `Appumnm niea Decembervr 1e,1929.V serial No. 414,340.

Our present invention relatesto an im?.

In our patented derrick legrclamp, the' shim of the clamp on each le@sectionof the derrick leg was sectionalized 'thus necessitating the vuseof four shim parts. We proposein accordance withthe features of ourpresent invention to provide a derrick leg clamp construction inwhicheach shim comprises a singlepart and in which the space formerlyoccupied by thes'himparts omitted' is filled by a splicing plate commonto both of the leg section ends and disposed in direct contact with theportion. of these ends4r not covered by the 4shims.

, In accordance Vw-it comprising a pairof open sidedshims adapted tovbesecuredA tothe abutting ends of-.a

pair of they sections of the'derrick leg and l a clamping constructionenclosing the shims comprising two, parts, namely, `a tubular membercommon toboth of the shims and adapted t0 overlap and enclose both oftheshims and a splicing plate common to both 351' shims vextendinglongitudinally of the derrickleginthe open sides of both the shims andthe tubular member. f,

Other objects and advantages of our inf vention will more fully appearfrom ythe fol-V Figure 3 is a viewy partlyin section talren 50 on theline III- III of Figure 1 yand leg.

h the 7 general I. features 25'of our present invention thereis.Vprovided al four part clamp for-sectional derrick legs` i the flanges 14of the shims abut each otheras y Figure lis a plan View of'one ofthe'shims showing it appliedto a section of thek derrick As shown on thedrawings: l The reference character 10 designates gen- 55 erally a rodwhich may take the form of a sectionalized derrick leg. The' associatedends of a pair of sections of thisleg l() abut each Y other asindicatedat 11 in Figure 2. Secured to each of these ends is aV shim 12comprising 6a i a curved or tubular portion'13 disposed about the curvedsurface ofthe lderrick'leg and a pair vof laterally kextendingflangesrlll disposed at substantially right angles to. .each other. 'Ihetubular portion 13 of each shim 65 issecured to thel corresponding endof the sectional derrickleg 10 by means of rivets 15.

It will, of course,rbe understood that the shims may be secured vto thederrick leg by Ianyother suitable means. In fact the shims may be weldedto thederrick leg if ay welded joint is desired..rv I Y' It should benoted that whenA the shims are in place on the derrick leg (Figure'2)indicated at lthus increasing the bearing surface between theabuttingends of thesece tionsy of the derrick leg. That is to say, the bearingsurfacell is in realitysupplemented by the bearing surface 16. "Thisfeature isl advantageous in that it increases the vertical load bearingcapacityI of thelegsections.

Disposed about and common to both shims is a clamping member 17comprising a tubular portion 18 encircling the tubular portions 13of theshims and flanges 19 adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the flanges111 of the shims 12.

The clamping member 17 as wel] as'each of the shims 12 are provided.with open sides as is readily evident from Figures 3 and 4. The opensides of the shims 12 are disposed in Vvertical valignment with eachother.

Positioned between the flanges 14 ofthe shims and common to both shimsis a splicing or'clamping plate 2O having a curvedportion 2l forengagement withtlie curved surface ofthe derrick leg 10 in the opensides of the shims 12. Thisconstruction results in the plate20comprising in part a continuaicc tion of the shims as far as theencircling of the derrick leg is concerned.

The clamping plate 2O is provided with laterally extending flanges 22disposed at substantially. right angles to each other and adapted toengage the inner surfaces of the flanges 14 of the shims 12.

The contactingflanges 19-j 14 and 22- are adapted to be secured togetherby Ineansof` bolts and nuts 23 which also serve to anchor to the flangesgirths and braces 24' such are commonly used in derricl construction.

Attention is directed to the fact that the holes in the flanges 19 and22., throngliA which the bolts extend are elongated as indicatedat.25.in- Figure 2; 'We purposely elongate these openingsin; orde-rto=facilitateathe alignment of' these holes with the bolt apertures 26in the flanges 141r ofthe shims.

In the; setting up of a derriclY the'A shims are iirstv secured; tlo theends .off the sections of the derric-lsr legi which are to be connectedtogether; 'lllie tubular member 1.7 is secured.

to the shim onthe lower section-ofthe` derrick leg. In this position thetubular member 17: forms a` socket into which`- the endof the upper leg`section carrying its shim 1i may. be dropped and bolted in place. Theelongated holes;25 in.v the flanges 1-9 and A22 facilitate the'alignment ofy these openings'25 with the openings26 in the flanges 14eof the shims as previously explained. Thus it will' be evident thatwhenthe clampingy or splic ing plate 20 isproperly aligned with thefull;

length flanges 141 of thel shims the flanges may all' bebolted togetherby. the bolts` and nuts 23 which also serve to secure. the girthsandfbraces: 211x tothe flanges.y

rlhe full lenOth; flanges. of tubular membersA 17 and 2O not onlygreatly strengthen they joints of the sectionsofv the derriclr legf 105but aretl'iusA utilized` for the attachmentofgirths-and braces thereto..llhenY too, as'

previously pointed4 out, the Vertical load carrying, capacity of the legsections isy greatlyy increased owing to the additionall contact surface167 between the cooperatingr flanges 141 of the shims.

New, it is, ofcourse, understood that although We have illustrated; anddescribed in detail the preferred embodiment off our invention, theinvention is not to be thus limited but only in solar as defined by thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

lNe claim asour invention:

1. A clamp for a sectionaly derrick leg com.- prising shims adapted tobe securedv in. fixed relation upon respective abutting ends ofthesections` of said leg and to enclose only a port-ion` of said ends, atubular member commonto bothl of and over-lapping said adjacent shims,said shimsand tubular member beingpfor-med with. cooperating'flangesadapt- -ed to be secured together and intermediate to both of andoverlapping said' adjacent shims7` saidshims and tubular member beingformed with cooperating flanges adapted to lie-secured together andintermediate clamping means adapted to contact the unenclosed portion otsaid derriclr leg; disposed between thesides. of each ofsaid shimsforclamping said! shims. and: tubularl mcmber'toft'hel derrick leg, saidintermediate clamping means comprising a clamping plate common to andoverlapping'both. of said: shims and adaptedl to fill in thefspaceabet-ween the flanges of the shimsl and the tubular member.

3. A fourepart clamp for'sectional derrick legs comprising a pair ofopen sided' shimsl adapted to be; secured" to the abutting ends of apair' of the sections of the derrick legs.

and an open sided tubul'armember common to both of said shims andadapted toA overlap and enclose both of' said shims, andv a splicingplate adapted to besecured to said member common to both shimsextendinglongitudinally of the derri'clr leg in the open sidesoff boththeV shims'andthe tubular member for completing` the clamp;

41. Aclamp for sectional derrick legs comprisingfshims adapted to besecured'fin fixed relation upon respective abutting ends of' sectionsofthe derri'ck leg,` a tubular clamping member adapted to ybe mountedoversaid shims and' means for interconnecting said tube andsaidshimslcomprisinga splice plate having'a curved portion for contactwith a port-ion of a derrickleg not coveredy by said shims.4

5. A clamp for sectional derrick legs comprising cooperable shimsadapted to ybe securedinfixed relation uponthe abutting ends of sections`of the derrick leg, a sectional outer tube constructionadapted'to bemounted over said shims, each of said' shims comprising a member havinga cylindrical portion for encircling a portion of the end of the derrickleg andfulllength flanges extending laterally from the sides of saidportion.7 said tube havingl flanges adapted to cooperate with theflanges ofA said shims and to be secured thereto.

6. A clamp for a sectional rod' comprising 1 subscribed our names atDrumrght, Creek County, Okla.

WALTER F. SPEAKMAN. GUY E. CROCKETT.

